Prime Minister wins latest PSC battle

The way is now clear, at least for now, for Prime Minister Bruce Golding to name new members to the Public Service Commission (PSC). The Supreme Court in Jamaica today refused to grant an extension to Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller barring the Prime Minister from naming new members to the PSC.

However, Attorney-at-Law, Bert Samuels, representing Mrs. Simpson Miller cautioned against the naming of new members, arguing that the court was still to hear the matter of the former PSC members on January 10. Today’s hearing followed a writ of prohibition brought by the Opposition, which bars the government from appointing new members to the PSC.

Supreme Court Judge, Justice Donald McIntosh, granted the writ of prohibition last week. The court order, which expires today, prevents the Prime Minister from filling the vacancies resulting from the dismissal of the previous PSC members.

Mrs. Simpson Miller took out the injunction after she failed to stop Prime Minister Bruce Golding from recommending that PSC members be dismissed for misconduct. Mrs. Simpson Miller wants the former members of the Commission to be offered a fair hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal into the allegations of misbehaviour.

The government and the PSC have been at odds since the Commission recommended that Professor Stephen Vasciannie be appointed the new Solicitor General.